When I was a child, my parents took us to open houses for fun. My little sister and I would always claim the most intriguing room as “ours”—the one with the secret compartment, the one with the largest windows, the room with unexpected nooks. If we toured Kristin’s home, the attic-turned-bedroom she created for her daughter Ella would have been an instant winner and likely sparked a fierce debate over who had dibs.
Hi everyone! Kristin writes that she debated which project to share, but ultimately chose her daughter Ella’s bedroom. She cites three good reasons: the story includes a couple of dead pigeons (an oddly common renovation memo), it isn’t the kitchen (which still has lingering issues), and it’s a child’s room that balances playfulness with flexible design—exactly the kind of space people love to see.
The house initially drew Kristin and her family because of its distinctive mansard roof and the attic tucked beneath it. The space arrived with plenty of challenges: deteriorated brick, water-damaged timber, and the remnants of a pigeon infestation. Rather than being deterred, they envisioned a treetop-like bedroom perched above the rest of the house. That potential was enough to make them commit to the project.
Demolition revealed the original structure’s character as well as its faults. They removed rotted pine flooring but managed to salvage one wall made of tongue-and-groove pine. That reclaimed wall became a valuable design element, bringing texture and warmth to the newly finished room and serving as a backdrop for play and display.
To organize the attic’s limited space and conceal essential building systems, Kristin and her husband designed custom wardrobes. These were fabricated locally and installed to provide generous storage while hiding the ductwork that serves both this floor and the one below. Concealed storage solved functional needs and preserved the room’s simple, uncluttered feel.
With structure and storage addressed, the couple turned their attention to the ceiling and rafters. They covered exposed framing and inset beadboard between the rafters to create a cozy, finished ceiling that still feels true to the attic’s character. The beadboard adds a classic, cottage-like texture that complements the salvaged pine and the room’s overall playful vibe.
One of the most delightful features in the finished space is the repurposed pine wall. Placed along an angled dormer, it has become an ever-changing gallery for Ella’s artwork, maps, and imaginative displays. The angled wall invites exploration and creative use; small hands can pin drawings, hang treasures, or transform the space into a new scene each week.
From that dormer window, the family enjoys a view of the Gateway Arch and seasonal fireworks—an unexpected perk that makes the room feel both private and connected to the neighborhood. Those little moments of cityscape beyond the attic add to the magic of a child’s room crafted with care.
The mansard roof itself received major attention during the renovation. Kristin notes that her husband handled much of the heavy lifting, especially since she was pregnant during much of the project and they later had a newborn. Rebuilding the mansard was costly but necessary, and it became an integral architectural feature of Ella’s nursery. Kristin jokes that Ella has “the most expensive nursery on the block”—a playful nod to the slate and copper materials and the value of their own labor.
This attic transformation is a thoughtful balance of reclaimed materials, custom storage solutions, and child-centered design. It demonstrates how a challenging space can become a warm, flexible, and imaginative bedroom where a child’s creativity is encouraged and where family memories will be made.
If you’re inspired by attic conversions or children’s rooms designed for play and display, take these ideas—salvaged wood for texture, built-in storage to hide systems, and a dormer window for light and view—as practical starting points for your own renovation.
Thanks to Kristin for sharing her story and for showing how a once-neglected attic can become a beloved, functional bedroom for a little girl named Ella.